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v 6 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. TANNER 8v E. LUTZ. SHIPS COURSE AND POSITIONINDICATOR. No. 442,925.

Patented Dec. 16, 1890.

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'I'. TANNER 8a E. LUTZ. SHIPS OOURSN AND POSITION INDICATOR.

No. 442,925. Patented Deo. IO, 1890.

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SHIPS COURSE AND POSITION INDICATOR. NO. 442,925. Patented DOO. 16,1890.

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T. TANNBR & E. LUTZ. SHIPS COURSE AND POSITION INDICATOR.

No. 442,925. Patented Dec. 16, 1890.

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T. T ANNBR & E. LUTZ. SHIPS OOURSN AND POSITION INDICATOR.

No. 442,925. Patented Deo. 16, 1890.

l Nw ||1|| y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIIEoPnILUs TANNER, or roNTs-DE-MARTEL, AND ERNsT LUTZ, or ZURIcII,

SWITZERLAND.

SHIPS COURSE AND POSITION INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,925, dated December16, 1890.

Application filed December 11, 1889. Serial No. 333,381. (No model.)

ERNST LUTZ, a citizen of the Republic ot"v i Switzerland, residing atZurich, in Switzerland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a Ship Apparatus for Automatica] Continuallndication ofGeographical Place, Draft, and Velocity, ot which the following is aspecification.

lhe obJect of our Invention is to provlde a new and improved apparatusdesigned to trace the course of a vessel upon the sea upon a chart insuch a manner that the course of the vessel is precisely and accuratelyproduced on said chart and the position of the vessel clearly indicatedat all times. Furthermore, the apparatus is designed to show at alltimes the speed and course ot' the vessel.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts anddetails, as will be fully described hereinafter, and nally pointed outin the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side view of the indicator ofour improved ships indicating apparatus, parts being shown in sectionand others broken out. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the indicator, partsbeing broken out and others insection. Fig. 3 is a side view of themotor and the gearing for transmitting motion, parts being broken outand others shown in section. Fig. 4 is an end View of the two motors,parts being broken out and others shown in section. Fig. is a side viewof the governor for controlling the motor or motors, parts being brokenout and others shown in section. Fig. G is an end View of the same,taken transversely on Fig. 5, parts being broken out and others shown insection. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the indicator, motor, andgovernor, parts being` broken out and others shown in section. Fig. S isa side view ot' the spring-motor, which may be used for operating themechanism. Fig. 9 is an end view of the same. Fig. S is a side view of amodiiied construction ot' the spring-motor shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 is anend view of the same, and Fig. 10 is au enlarged detail verticalsectional view of the support for the charttable.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre spending parts.

The entire apparatus consists oi an indicater, a motor, and a governor,which will now be described successively. The table T, adapted tosupport a chart suitably prepared and which will be describedhereinafter, is

accurately centered and balanced, so as to be 6o easily rotated and sothat the chart on the top of the table can always be adjusted to be inthe proper position. Said table is provided with a downwardly-projectingstem T', provided on its lower end with a piston working in a socket F0,xe'd to a separable nut F3, mounted to slide in a grooved guide F',arranged parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vessel. The nut F3is provided with a screw w, by means ot which it can be closed 7o oropened, as may be necessary. A screwspindle S passes through the openingofthe nut F3, and by turning said screw-spindle in one direction or theother the nut F3, and with it the chart-table T, are moved forward orbackward in the direction of the length of the vessel.

In the ball U, suitably suspended from a bracket-armK above the chart-iable T, a clockwork mechanism is placed, and from the bot- 8o stroke atregular intervals-say every tive, 9o

ten, or fifteen minutes.

The bracket-arm K that supports the clockwork is supported by a nut F2,adapted to slide in the guides F4, arranged at right angles tothelongitudinal axis of the vessel, and 9 5 through said nut F2 ascrew-spindle S2 passes. Said screw-spindle S2 serves to move the ball Uand the pointer relatively to the lateral deviation of the vessel,whereas the screwspindle S serves to move the chart-table T Ioo A pin orelatively to the forwaid and b'ackward motion of the vessel, bothspindles being controlled by suitable devices, which will be describedhereinafter.

The position of the chart-table is controlled by means of. a magnet Oattached to its under side. Then the ehart-tablein its motionhas arrivedat the end of its path and the vessel has traversed the course markedupon the chart, the nut liS strikes the hammer q of the gong (1. Thechart is then removed and rcplaced by the next following` chart of theships course, and the pointer o and chart are so adjusted that thepointer will be above the beginning of the couise on said inap-section.

It is considered advantageous to use a motor actuated by steam; butmotors actuated by electricity, compressed air, explosive substances,spring-power, and heat may be used. Two motors are necessary, one forrotating the spindle S and the other for rotating the spindle S2, whichmotors must be entirely independent of each other. The left-handcylinder D, Fig. 4, serves to actuatc the screwspindle S for thechart-table and begins to work simultaneously with the first movement ofthe ships propeller, as at that instant the controlling-valve (Z of saidmotor is opened and the steam permitted to enter through the pipe Q intosaid cylinder. The passage of steam to said cylinder is proportioned tothe speed of the vessel and is governed by the governor, which will bedescribed hereinafter. The cylinder E rotates the spindle S2 to theright or left, according as the deviation of the ships course takesplace to one side or the other, and thus the indicator-pin o is movedcorrespondingly from the chart-table to the right or to the left. Thetransmission of inotion from the cranks 7e 7c, operated by thecylindei', to the screw-spindle S S`2 can be effected by anysuitablemechanism. In the apparatus shown in the drawings we have adopted asystem of screw-wheels and sci'ews, by means of which the number ofrevolutions of the cranks Zr, which is proportioned to the speed of thevessel, is reduced to correspond with the scale ot the chart. For thevessels 'm no steam is available. The spring-motor shown in Figs. 8" and9 can be used. The drinn n is provided on its rim with a row of teeth,and is caused to rotate by the action of the spring contained in thesame, in the saine manner as in the clock, and by means of intermediategearing of any suit.- able construction the shaft S is rotated. In orderto admit of the rotating of said shaft in one direction or the other,the wheels Z and Z Vare mounted on a rocking frame Z2, connected withthe rod 0r, the cog-wheel Z'carry- `in-g "a pinion Zi", adapted toengage the teeth of the drinn n.. lVhen the wheel Z is engaged with thepinion i, as shown in Fig. S, the shaft S is rotated in one direction,and when the frame Z2 is shifted so that the wheel Z is disengaged fromthe pinion z' and the motion is transmitted from the wheel Z to thewheel Z',

and from the latter to the pinion i, the direction of rotation of theshaft S is reversed.

The rod is connected with the governor. A suitable braking device a isoperated by a rod ij, also operated from the governor. The working ofthe apparatus is regulated by applying the brake a greater or lessextent. rlhis corresponds to the cutting oil? of the steam from thecylinders of the steammotor. Instead of using a band-brake a, as shownin Figs. S and 9, an expansible fanbrake U may be used, as shown inFigs. S and 9, which fan-brake is operated in any suitable manner 'fromthe rod y.

lhe governor (shown in Figs. 5, G, and 7) is based upon the principleot' the pilots tube,7 in which the height to which the water asccnds isproportionate to the speed with which the tube is moved forward in thewater.

In our improved governor we use three tubes A, l5, and C, and when thevessel is in a position of rest the height of the water in all threetubes corresponds tothe draft of the vessel. The tube B is provided atits lower end with two downwardly-extending branch pipes B B', one ateach side of the keel, and the height of water in the said tube remainsthe saine during the entire passage-that is to say, it is not influencedbythe speed of lateral movements of the Vessel. In the tube B a float isplaced, from which the rod Z1 projects downward. On said rod the twocollars G0 and II are fixed, in which the rods G and II are mounted toslide at right angles to the said rod B.

A is a course-tube, and its lowei end is bent forward at an angle ofabout ninety degrees and passes through the bottom of the vessel, asshown in Fig. 5. The height to which the water ascends in the tube Aindicates the speed of the vessel. In said tube a iioat s is provided,which has an upwardlyprojecting rod Zt, at the upper end of which isfixed a wedge-sliaped plate a, provided along its inclined edge with aslot a', into which slot a pin or lug on one end of the sliding rod Ilpasses. The wedgeshaped plate a is moved up or down, according to theheight of water in the pipe A-that is, according to the speed of thevessel. That end of the rod II opposite the one guided in the slot aslides in the slot of a bar L, the lower end of which is pivoted to alink Il', in turn pivotcd to a frame IP, and the upper end of theslotted bar I. is hinged to one end of an angle-lever M, the oppositeend of which is connected by the link ym3 with the rod n1.. As the rod hmoves upward, the slotted bar Il is moved to the left, Fig. 5, wherebythe rod m .is moved downward and the valve of the cylinder D opened to agreater extent to admit more steam, so that the spindle S will be 1'0-tated with greater speed. On the contrary,

when the speed of the vessel decreases,the iioat s descends, the plate ais moved downward, the slotted barLis moved tothe right, and the rod mmoved upward, whereby the steam-valve et' IOC IIO

the vcylinder D is closed to a greater extent, and thus the speed ot'the screw-spindle S is decreased. The pipe C serves for governing theapparatus in regard to the lateral deviation, and for this purpose thelower end of the pipe C is provided with the two branch pipes C C2,projecting from opposite sides of the keel. The pipe O contains a oat z,from which the rod c projects downward, said rod carrying thewedge-shaped plate c, having the inclined guide-slot c2, into which alug projects from the sliding rod G, said sliding rod also engaging aslotted bar II, connected with an angle-lever I), which in -turn isconnected by a suitable link with the rod @,Fig. 6, that governs thevalve of the motor-cylinder E. Said iioat ,e thus governs the speed ofrotation of the shaft S2 and the movements of the pin or marker o. Eachof the wedge-shaped plates d and e is provided with a scale which givesthe height of the ascending water in the pipes,

V'Vhen the vessel is in the Gulf-stream, for instance, which increasesor diminishes the resistance to be overcome by the vesselis engine, asuitable correction must be made in the movements of the parts. Thedirection and the velocity of the currents are indicated on the nauticalchart by means of arrows and numbers. To permit of such adjustment, therod m is provided at its upper end with apinion Z, engaging a rack m0,connected with the valve-stem. Vthen the sea is smooth, the upper end ofthe rod m is at the zeromark of the scale provided on the rod m0, themark -itoward the top and toward the bottom. When the vessel moves withthe current, the speed will be increased by the motion or the speed ofthe current, and to adjust the device the toothed wheel z is turned byhand until the upper end of the rod on points on the plus scale to thenumber correspending to the current and is then locked in place. If thecurrent is a contrary one, the upper end ofthe rod m is adjusted in asimilar manner to the corresponding number of the minus scale of the rodm0. A set-screw serves to hold the two parts m0 and m firmly togetherand in position when adjusted. The rod-p is connected in a similarmanner with the rod 19 of the link E, in case the ship passestransversely through the current, thus permitting of adjusting all themechanism for moving the pin o according to the currents through whichthe vessel passes.

Below the low-water line of the vessel the cock R is arranged in thepipe C, which cock is provided with two passages at right angles to eachother, and which are usually kept half open. In case ot' wind, storm, orhigh sea from that side of the vessel from which the pipe C2 projects,the vessel will be driven laterally in the direction toward the sidefrom which the pipe C projects. rlhis deviation is shown upon thechart-table by the indicator, which is moved by means of the spindle S'ein the direction of the said deviation and proportionate to the same.'lhe reversing-lever ro of the motor for driving the spindle Sz is thenadjusted so as to give said spindle the direction of rotationcorresponding to the lateral deviation ot the vessel. The lever To isconnected with the rod rt", which in turn is connected with the crank rof the cock R, which is turned in the tube C, so that the branch tube C2is closed and the branch tube C :is opened. The water now risesproportionately to the speed of the deviation inthe tube C and opens thevalve in the cylinderE correspondingly. In case the vessel is drivenlaterally in the opposite direction the cock R is reversed, so that thebranch tube C2 is opened and the branch tube C is closed. The movementsof the vessel in lengthwise direction thus fully controls and moves thechart` table, whereas the lateral movements fully control the devicesfor supporting and moving the pin o.,

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. In an apparatus for indicating thesituation of vessels at sea, the combination, with a pilots tube, of arecording mechanism, a motor for operating said recording mechanism, anda iioat in the pilots tube for controlling said motor, substantially asset forth.

2. In an apparatus for indicating the situation of vessels at sea, thecombination, with a chart-table, of a motor for moving the same in thedirection of the length of the vessel, an indicator mounted above thechart-table, a -motor for operating the same transversely to the lengthof the vessel, and independent loatsforcontrollingsaid motors,substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for indicating the situation of vessels at sea, thecombination, with a chart-table, of a magnet on the same, an endlessscrew for shifting said chart-table in the direction of the length ot'the Vessel, a motor for operating said screw, an indicator mounted abovethe chart-table, a screw for moving said indicator at right angles tothe direction ofthe length of the vessel, and independent tloats togovern said screws, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for indicating the situation of vessels at sea, thecombination, with a chart-table and a motor for moving the same, of anindicator above the chart-table and a motor for moving the same,pilottubes,iioats in the pilot-tubes, wed ge-shaped slotted platescarried by said floats, and sliding rods operated by an additional floatin an additional pilot-tube, which sliding rods govern the controllingmechanism of the motor, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for indicating the situation of vessels at sea, thecombination, with a chart-table, and a motor for moving the same, of anindicating mechanism above the chart-table and a motor for moving thesame, the pilot-tubes A, B, and C, iioats in the same,

IOO

IIO

rods connected with said tloats, the wedge shaped plates a c, havinginclined slots and secured to the .rods of the floats in the pilot--tubes A t), the rod Z) on the tloat in the pilottube B, sliding rods Gand H on said rod, and slotted bars L and N, actuated by the rods G andII, substantially as set forth.

G. In an apparatus for indicating` the situat-ion of vessels at sea, thecombination, with an indicating device and a motor for operating thesame, of the rack-rod m0, connected with the valve of the motor, the rodm, operated from a float, the pinion z, and a thumbscrew for locking therods m m0 together, substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus for indicating the situation of Vessels at sea, thecombination, with a recording and indicating` device, of a motor foroperating the same, an eXtensible Valverod governing the valve of saidmotor, and a float operating the valve-rod, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus for indicating the situation of vessels at sea, thecombination, with an indicating and recording mechanism, of a motel', apilot-tube containing a float, a rod operated from said iioat andserving to control the motor, and a cock in said pilot-tube, which cockis connected with the reversing mechanism of the motor, substantially asset forth.

t). In an apparatus for indicatingr the situation of vessels at sea, thecombination, with a screw, of a nut on the sa1ne,a guide for said nut,and a cup on said nut, a chart-table, and stem on the bottom of saidtable fitting in the cup, substantially as set forth.

l0. In an apparatus forindicatiugthe situation of vessels, thecombination, with a movable chart-table and mechanism for moving thesame, of an indicator locatedy above the chart-table, a clock-work foroperating said indicator, a dial-plate suspended from the clock-work, ahand mounted to rotate over the dial-plate, and mechanism lor shiftingsaid indicator and its mechanism, substantially as set forth.

li. In an apparatus for indicating the situation of vessels, thecombination, with a charttable, of a motor for moving;` said chart-tablein the direction of the length of the vessel, a float for controllingsaid motor, an independent pilotetube having its lower end projected inthe direction toward the front of the vessel and containing said Iioat,an indicator mounted to move over the chart-table transversely to thelongitudinal axis of thevessel, a motor for moving said indicatingdevice, a VIloat tor controlling said motor, and a pilottube containingsaid float, which pilot-tube is provided at its lower end with branchesprojecting Yfrom the Vessel at opposite sides ol' the keel,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we hereunto sign our names, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses, this l-ith day of.I11ne, 183).

TII EOIIIILU TAN N ICR. E RN S'l LUT Z.

Witn esses:

EMIL BLUM, )'loiti'rz Verra.

